During long periods or more than two hours, a playpen may be preferred for your young puppy. Potty accidents during longer periods will be less of an issue in a puppy pen compared to a dog crate. That said, older pups and adult dogs can typically manage up to four hours in a dog crate, assuming they're crate trained.
The playpen is a great way for pet parents to keep their puppies safe and give them the playtime they need, but it should not be used as a crutch. A playpen should not be used to confine your puppy for long periods as this can lead to behavioral problems.
Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders or bowels for that long. The same goes for adult dogs being housetrained. Crate your dog until they are able to be alone in the house without accidents or destructive habits.
While playpens are great as a safe place for your pup to play, dog crates are more suitable for bedtime and travel as they usually don't allow enough room for your dog to move about very much. You have a choice of metal crates or soft crates. Read on to choose the best dog crate for your dog.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours. And it's a good idea to build up the time they spend alone gradually to prevent separation anxiety from setting in.
Our dogs and puppies rely on us for exercise, playtime, and of course, their food and treats! As a recap, you should aim to provide your puppy with 2-3 hours of engaged interaction with you. That can come in the form of play, exercise, training, and general bonding.
A playpen gives you a safe space to keep your child while you answer the door, catch up on a little housework, or get yourself ready for work.
Playpens are also commonly referred to as play yards, and are extremely useful if you're looking for a safe space to give your toddler or child to play in. They are square-shaped or rectangular structures that are made of fabric and mesh, or some combination of both.
Simply flipping the top part of the crate, it will add a playpen to the crate!
My preference is to allow your dog to sleep out of a crate around 4-5 months and to be free completely before a year. Your dog should be housetrained; which means you know how long your dog can hold his bladder and he knows how to ask to go outside to go.
Create a Safe Confinement Area
To keep Fido (and your belongings) safe from harm, create a safe confinement area just for your furry friend. Crate training is a great way to keep older puppies safely sequestered while you're at work.
Unlike the crate where you can't leave a young puppy for long periods; the puppy will be fine in the playpen and you can go out for longer periods. Just make sure your dog is ready before you leave for a long period so the puppy does not feel left alone form the start and associate that with the playpen itself.
An expandable dog pen can be a great help. You get peace of mind knowing exactly where your furry friend is, and what they're playing with, and they have lots of room to play safely. A dog playpen will also help your puppy feel more secure in their new surroundings and give them an area they can proudly call their own!
Important note: Although you can leave potty pads in your puppy's playpen to absorb any accidents they may have, this on its own won't potty train your puppy. This is why we recommend following a potty training schedule to teach them how to “hold it” and where to potty when it's time to!
Avoid leaving water and food in the crate
It may not be a good idea to leave water in the crate for your puppy especially in the first few days when you are still training him on the house rules. Puppies will fill up on the water and might mess up their crate.
Stop using the playpen when your child can easily climb out — when he or she reaches a height of 34 inches (86 centimeters) or weighs 30 pounds (14 kilograms).
A playpen comes into its own when your child is just beginning to crawl -- at about six or seven months -- and you may find it useful until your child is about two years old. Think about how you'll use it and in which areas of your home before you go ahead and buy one.
Another alternative if you don't have much spare room, is to use a travel cot. Travel cots are an easy way to keep your baby safe and away from potential dangers. Some of them, come with a lot of storage and useful features that a playpen does not have.
Babies placed in a playpen could grow up to be less intelligent than their peers because they are not free to explore their surroundings. Their curiosity and creativity will be dampened apparently. They could experience developmental delay because they can't access furniture to assist them to stand or walk.
Dog playpens give your pup room to explore and play safely when you're busy around the house. Pens are big enough to put food and water bowls in, as well as your puppy's favorite toys. 2. Many dogs cannot be allowed outside except on a leash, or they are diggers and their favorite digging spot is the flower bed.
In Canada, playpens are not recommended for unsupervised sleep. They are not as durable and safe as cribs. If you use a playpen for sleep temporarily while travelling, you can take some steps to make your baby's sleep safer.
Puppyhood is an important stage of development for dogs, so you need to keep puppy entertained — whether you are indoors or out. Keeping your furry buddy working is also important for training and keeping damage to a minimum. A bored puppy is absolutely a puppy who's getting into trouble!
If your dog seems relaxed in their posture and not tense or stiff, this is a good indication they are feeling good. Loose shoulders, soft eyes without a fixed gaze, and a dose of 'wiggliness' or pure 'flopped-outness' are all clues that your dog's feeling super chill. They're playful.
From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours). If possible, dogs older than 6 months should not be left alone for longer than 4 hours at a time.